A foreign couple undergoing IVF treatment in Delhi were found dead in each other’s arms after a massive fire broke out at Flourish Stay B&B in Malviya Nagar, claiming 21 lives.
The couple, among 12 foreign nationals who died in Wednesday’s blaze at the hotel in Hauz Rani, had been staying at the facility while receiving fertility treatment at a nearby hospital.
They were discovered inside a bathroom on the ground floor, where they are believed to have taken shelter as thick smoke and flames rapidly engulfed the building.
Hospital staff and locals said the couple were frequent visitors to the area due to their ongoing treatment. Wasim Raja, duty in-charge at Max Smart Hospital and one of the first responders, described the scene as deeply distressing, saying it surpassed even the Taj Mahal as a symbol of love.
“We somehow managed to open the bathroom door and saw something that is beyond words to describe. I have seen many dead bodies during my career, but nothing compares to what I saw there,” Raja said in an interview with PTI.
According to him, the woman appeared to have recently undergone a medical procedure, with a visible surgical mark and was seated on a toilet seat, while her husband sat beside her on a chair nearby.
“They were holding each other. Their arms were wrapped around one another and her head was resting on his shoulder,” he said.
Rescue personnel immediately attempted to check for vital signs and administered CPR, but there was no response. “We checked their pulse and veins and tried CPR and every possible life-saving measure, but there was no response. They had most likely succumbed to smoke inhalation,” he said.
He added that even in their final moments, the couple seemed to find comfort in each other’s presence. “When death was approaching, they chose to face it together in each other’s arms. It was a scene that will stay with me forever,” Raja said.
According to local cab operator Ikrar, who lives near the hotel, drivers in the area regularly saw the couple as they made frequent visits to the nearby hospital for treatment.
“They were undergoing IVF treatment. Drivers from our locality would often ferry them to the hospital and back. They had come here with hope of starting a family,” he said.
The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday morning when a massive fire swept through a five-storey hotel, killing 21 people and leaving several others injured.
Among the victims were several foreign nationals from African and Central Asian countries who had made Delhi their temporary home for medical treatment, work, or business purposes.
Lavkesh Bajaj, the owner of the building, was arrested within hours of the incident on Wednesday. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the building’s rooftop exit was allegedly blocked, while cooking heaters were in use inside multiple guest rooms.
Police have also flagged serious violations in the hotel’s operations, which was permitted only six rooms but was allegedly running around 25.
According to police sources, preliminary investigation suggests the fire may have originated from an electrical short circuit, with officials ruling out the possibility of an LPG cylinder explosion.
Investigators believe the pattern and severity of the fire suggest it may have been triggered by an electrical fault in internal wiring. They said short circuits in concealed wiring often cause rapid fire spread across different sections of a building.
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With inputs from PTI